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Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act
(Davis-Stirling Act)
Civil Code Sections 1350-1378 (as of January 1, 2008)
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CALIFORNIA CODES
CIVIL CODE
SECTION 1350-1350.7
1350. This title shall be known and may be cited as the
Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act.
1350.5. Division, part, title, chapter, and section headings do not
in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of this title.
1350.7. (a) This section applies to delivery of a document to the
extent the section is made applicable by another provision of this
title.
(b) A document shall be delivered by one or more of the following
methods:
(1) Personal delivery.
(2) First-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to a member at
the address last shown on the books of the association or otherwise
provided by the member. Delivery is deemed to be complete on deposit
into the United States mail.
(3) E-mail, facsimile, or other electronic means, if the recipient
has agreed to that method of delivery. If a document is delivered
by electronic means, delivery is complete at the time of
transmission.
(4) By publication in a periodical that is circulated primarily to
members of the association.
(5) If the association broadcasts television programming for the
purpose of distributing information on association business to its
members, by inclusion in the programming.
(6) A method of delivery provided in a recorded provision of the
governing documents.
(7) Any other method of delivery, provided that the recipient has
agreed to that method of delivery.
(c) A document may be included in or delivered with a billing
statement, newsletter, or other document that is delivered by one of
the methods provided in subdivision (b).
(d) For the purposes of this section, an unrecorded provision of
the governing documents providing for a particular method of delivery
does not constitute agreement by a member of the association to that
method of delivery.
SECTION 1355-1357
1355. (a) The declaration may be amended pursuant to the governing
documents or this title. Except as provided in Section 1356, an
amendment is effective after (1) the approval of the percentage of
owners required by the governing documents has been given, (2) that
fact has been certified in a writing executed and acknowledged by the
officer designated in the declaration or by the association for that
purpose, or if no one is designated, by the president of the
association, and (3) that writing has been recorded in each county in
which a portion of the common interest development is located.
(b) Except to the extent that a declaration provides by its
express terms that it is not amendable, in whole or in part, a
declaration which fails to include provisions permitting its
amendment at all times during its existence may be amended at any
time. For purposes of this subdivision, an amendment is only
effective after (1) the proposed amendment has been distributed to
all of the owners of separate interests in the common interest
development by first-class mail postage prepaid or personal delivery
not less than 15 days and not more than 60 days prior to any approval
being solicited; (2) the approval of owners representing more than
50 percent, or any higher percentage required by the declaration for
the approval of an amendment to the declaration, of the separate
interests in the common interest development has been given, and that
fact has been certified in a writing, executed and acknowledged by
an officer of the association; and (3) the amendment has been
recorded in each county in which a portion of the common interest
development is located. A copy of any amendment adopted pursuant to
this subdivision shall be distributed by first-class mail postage
prepaid or personal delivery to all of the owners of separate
interest immediately upon its recordation.
1355.5. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the governing
documents of a common interest development to the contrary, the board
of directors of the association may, after the developer of the
common interest development has completed construction of the
development, has terminated construction activities, and has
terminated his or her marketing activities for the sale, lease, or
other disposition of separate interests within the development, adopt
an amendment deleting from any of the governing documents any
provision which is unequivocally designed and intended, or which by
its nature can only have been designed or intended, to facilitate the
developer in completing the construction or marketing of the
development. However, provisions of the governing documents relative
to a particular construction or marketing phase of the development
may not be deleted under the authorization of this subdivision until
that construction or marketing phase has been completed.
(b) The provisions which may be deleted by action of the board
shall be limited to those which provide for access by the developer
over or across the common area for the purposes of (a) completion of
construction of the development, and (b) the erection, construction,
or maintenance of structures or other facilities designed to
facilitate the completion of construction or marketing of separate
interests.
(c) At least 30 days prior to taking action pursuant to
subdivision (a), the board of directors of the association shall mail
to all owners of the separate interests, by first-class mail, (1) a
copy of all amendments to the governing documents proposed to be
adopted under subdivision (a) and (2) a notice of the time, date, and
place the board of directors will consider adoption of the
amendments. The board of directors of an association may consider
adoption of amendments to the governing documents pursuant to
subdivision (a) only at a meeting which is open to all owners of the
separate interests in the common interest development, who shall be
given opportunity to make comments thereon. All deliberations of the
board of directors on any action proposed under subdivision (a)
shall only be conducted in such an open meeting.
(d) The board of directors of the association may not amend the
governing documents pursuant to this section without the approval of
the owners, casting a majority of the votes at a meeting or election
of the association constituting a quorum and conducted in accordance
with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 7510) of Part 3 of Division 2
of Title 1 of, and Section 7613 of, the Corporations Code. For the
purposes of this section, "quorum" means more than 50 percent of the
owners who own no more than two separate interests in the
development.
1356. (a) If in order to amend a declaration, the declaration
requires owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in the
association, in a single class voting structure, or owners having
more than 50 percent of the votes in more than one class in a voting
structure with more than one class, to vote in favor of the
amendment, the association, or any owner of a separate interest, may
petition the superior court of the county in which the common
interest development is located for an order reducing the percentage
of the affirmative votes necessary for such an amendment. The
petition shall describe the effort that has been made to solicit
approval of the association members in the manner provided in the
declaration, the number of affirmative and negative votes actually
received, the number or percentage of affirmative votes required to
effect the amendment in accordance with the existing declaration, and
other matters the petitioner considers relevant to the court's
determination. The petition shall also contain, as exhibits thereto,
copies of all of the following:
(1) The governing documents.
(2) A complete text of the amendment.
(3) Copies of any notice and solicitation materials utilized in
the solicitation of owner approvals.
(4) A short explanation of the reason for the amendment.
(5) Any other documentation relevant to the court's determination.
(b) Upon filing the petition, the court shall set the matter for
hearing and issue an ex parte order setting forth the manner in
which notice shall be given.
(c) The court may, but shall not be required to, grant the
petition if it finds all of the following:
(1) The petitioner has given not less than 15 days written notice
of the court hearing to all members of the association, to any
mortgagee of a mortgage or beneficiary of a deed of trust who is
entitled to notice under the terms of the declaration, and to the
city, county, or city and county in which the common interest
development is located that is entitled to notice under the terms of
the declaration.
(2) Balloting on the proposed amendment was conducted in
accordance with all applicable provisions of the governing documents.
(3) A reasonably diligent effort was made to permit all eligible
members to vote on the proposed amendment.
(4) Owners having more than 50 percent of the votes, in a single
class voting structure, voted in favor of the amendment. In a voting
structure with more than one class, where the declaration requires a
majority of more than one class to vote in favor of the amendment,
owners having more than 50 percent of the votes of each class
required by the declaration to vote in favor of the amendment voted
in favor of the amendment.
(5) The amendment is reasonable.
(6) Granting the petition is not improper for any reason stated in
subdivision (e).
(d) If the court makes the findings required by subdivision (c),
any order issued pursuant to this section may confirm the amendment
as being validly approved on the basis of the affirmative votes
actually received during the balloting period or the order may
dispense with any requirement relating to quorums or to the number or
percentage of votes needed for approval of the amendment that would
otherwise exist under the governing documents.
(e) Subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, notwithstanding, the court
shall not be empowered by this section to approve any amendment to
the declaration that:
(1) Would change provisions in the declaration requiring the
approval of owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in more
than one class to vote in favor of an amendment, unless owners having
more than 50 percent of the votes in each affected class approved
the amendment.
(2) Would eliminate any special rights, preferences, or privileges
designated in the declaration as belonging to the declarant, without
the consent of the declarant.
(3) Would impair the security interest of a mortgagee of a
mortgage or the beneficiary of a deed of trust without the approval
of the percentage of the mortgagees and beneficiaries specified in
the declaration, if the declaration requires the approval of a
specified percentage of the mortgagees and beneficiaries.
(f) An amendment is not effective pursuant to this section until
the court order and amendment have been recorded in every county in
which a portion of the common interest development is located. The
amendment may be acknowledged by, and the court order and amendment
may be recorded by, any person designated in the declaration or by
the association for that purpose, or if no one is designated for that
purpose, by the president of the association. Upon recordation of
the amendment and court order, the declaration, as amended in
accordance with this section, shall have the same force and effect
as if the amendment were adopted in compliance with every requirement
imposed by the governing documents.
(g) Within a reasonable time after the amendment is recorded the
association shall mail a copy of the amendment to each member of the
association, together with a statement that the amendment has been
recorded.
1357. (a) The Legislature finds that there are common interest
developments that have been created with deed restrictions which do
not provide a means for the property owners to extend the term of the
declaration. The Legislature further finds that covenants and
restrictions, contained in the declaration, are an appropriate method
for protecting the common plan of developments and to provide for a
mechanism for financial support for the upkeep of common areas
including, but not limited to, roofs, roads, heating systems, and
recreational facilities. If declarations terminate prematurely,
common interest developments may deteriorate and the housing supply
of affordable units could be impacted adversely.
The Legislature further finds and declares that it is in the
public interest to provide a vehicle for extending the term of the
declaration if owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in
the association choose to do so.
(b) A declaration which specifies a termination date, but which
contains no provision for extension of the termination date, may be
extended by the approval of owners having more than 50 percent of the
votes in the association or any greater percentage specified in the
declaration for an amendment thereto. If the approval of owners
having more than 50 percent of the votes in the association is
required to amend the declaration, the term of the declaration may be
extended in accordance with Section 1356.
(c) Any amendment to a declaration made in accordance with
subdivision (b) shall become effective upon recordation in
accordance with Section 1355.
(d) No single extension of the terms of the declaration made
pursuant to this section shall exceed the initial term of the
declaration or 20 years, whichever is less. However, more than one
extension may occur pursuant to this section.
SECTION 1357.100-1357.150
1357.100. As used in this article:
(a) "Operating rule" means a regulation adopted by the board of
directors of the association that applies generally to the management
and operation of the common interest development or the conduct of
the business and affairs of the association.
(b) "Rule change" means the adoption, amendment, or repeal of an
operating rule by the board of directors of the association.
1357.110. An operating rule is valid and enforceable only if all of
the following requirements are satisfied:
(a) The rule is in writing.
(b) The rule is within the authority of the board of directors of
the association conferred by law or by the declaration, articles of
incorporation or association, or bylaws of the association.
(c) The rule is not inconsistent with governing law and the
declaration, articles of incorporation or association, and bylaws of
the association.
(d) The rule is adopted, amended, or repealed in good faith and in
substantial compliance with the requirements of this article.
(e) The rule is reasonable.
1357.120. (a) Sections 1357.130 and 1357.140 only apply to an
operating rule that relates to one or more of the following subjects:
(1) Use of the common area or of an exclusive use common area.
(2) Use of a separate interest, including any aesthetic or
architectural standards that govern alteration of a separate
interest.
(3) Member discipline, including any schedule of monetary
penalties for violation of the governing documents and any procedure
for the imposition of penalties.
(4) Any standards for delinquent assessment payment plans.
(5) Any procedures adopted by the association for resolution of
disputes.
(6) Any procedures for reviewing and approving or disapproving a
proposed physical change to a member's separate interest or to the
common area.
(7) Procedures for elections.
(b) Sections 1357.130 and 1357.140 do not apply to the following
actions by the board of directors of an association:
(1) A decision regarding maintenance of the common area.
(2) A decision on a specific matter that is not intended to apply
generally.
(3) A decision setting the amount of a regular or special
assessment.
(4) A rule change that is required by law, if the board of
directors has no discretion as to the substantive effect of the rule
change.
(5) Issuance of a document that merely repeats existing law or the
governing documents.
1357.130. (a) The board of directors shall provide written notice
of a proposed rule change to the members at least 30 days before
making the rule change. The notice shall include the text of the
proposed rule change and a description of the purpose and effect of
the proposed rule change. Notice is not required under this
subdivision if the board of directors determines that an immediate
rule change is necessary to address an imminent threat to public
health or safety or imminent risk of substantial economic loss to the
association.
(b) A decision on a proposed rule change shall be made at a
meeting of the board of directors, after consideration of any
comments made by association members.
(c) As soon as possible after making a rule change, but not more
than 15 days after making the rule change, the board of directors
shall deliver notice of the rule change to every association member.
If the rule change was an emergency rule change made under
subdivision (d), the notice shall include the text of the rule
change, a description of the purpose and effect of the rule change,
and the date that the rule change expires.
(d) If the board of directors determines that an immediate rule
change is required to address an imminent threat to public health or
safety, or an imminent risk of substantial economic loss to the
association, it may make an emergency rule change; and no notice is
required, as specified in subdivision (a). An emergency rule change
is effective for 120 days, unless the rule change provides for a
shorter effective period. A rule change made under this subdivision
may not be readopted under this subdivision.
(e) A notice required by this section is subject to Section
1350.7.
1357.140. (a) Members of an association owning 5 percent or more of
the separate interests may call a special meeting of the members to
reverse a rule change.
(b) A special meeting of the members may be called by delivering a
written request to the president or secretary of the board of
directors, after which the board shall deliver notice of the meeting
to the association's members and hold the meeting in conformity with
Section 7511 of the Corporations Code. The written request may not
be delivered more than 30 days after the members of the association
are notified of the rule change. Members are deemed to have been
notified of a rule change on delivery of notice of the rule change,
or on enforcement of the resulting rule, whichever is sooner. For
the purposes of Section 8330 of the Corporations Code, collection of
signatures to call a special meeting under this section is a purpose
reasonably related to the interests of the members of the
association. A member request to copy or inspect the membership list
solely for that purpose may not be denied on the grounds that the
purpose is not reasonably related to the member's interests as a
member.
(c) The rule change may be reversed by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes represented and voting at a duly held meeting
at which a quorum is present (which affirmative votes also constitute
a majority of the required quorum), or if the declaration or bylaws
require a greater proportion, by the affirmative vote or written
ballot of the proportion required. In lieu of calling the meeting
described in this section, the board may distribute a written ballot
to every member of the association in conformity with the
requirements of Section 7513 of the Corporations Code.
(d) Unless otherwise provided in the declaration or bylaws, for
the purposes of this section, a member may cast one vote per separate
interest owned.
(e) A meeting called under this section is governed by Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 7510) of Part 3 of Division 2 of Title 1 of,
and Sections 7612 and 7613 of, the Corporations Code.
(f) A rule change reversed under this section may not be readopted
for one year after the date of the meeting reversing the rule
change. Nothing in this section precludes the board of directors
from adopting a different rule on the same subject as the rule change
that has been reversed.
(g) As soon as possible after the close of voting, but not more
than 15 days after the close of voting, the board of directors shall
provide notice of the results of a member vote held pursuant to this
section to every association member. Delivery of notice under this
subdivision is subject to Section 1350.7.
(h) This section does not apply to an emergency rule change made
under subdivision (d) of Section 1357.130.
1357.150. (a) This article applies to a rule change commenced on or
after January 1, 2004.
(b) Nothing in this article affects the validity of a rule change
commenced before January 1, 2004.
(c) For the purposes of this section, a rule change is commenced
when the board of directors of the association takes its first
official action leading to adoption of the rule change.
SECTION 1376-1378
1376. (a) Any covenant, condition, or restriction contained in any
deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting
the transfer or sale of, or any interest in, a common interest
development that effectively prohibits or restricts the installation
or use of a video or television antenna, including a satellite dish,
or that effectively prohibits or restricts the attachment of that
antenna to a structure within that development where the antenna is
not visible from any street or common area, except as otherwise
prohibited or restricted by law, is void and unenforceable as to its
application to the installation or use of a video or television
antenna that has a diameter or diagonal measurement of 36 inches or
less.
(b) This section shall not apply to any covenant, condition, or
restriction, as described in subdivision (a), that imposes reasonable
restrictions on the installation or use of a video or television
antenna, including a satellite dish, that has a diameter or diagonal
measurement of 36 inches or less. For purposes of this section,
"reasonable restrictions" means those restrictions that do not
significantly increase the cost of the video or television antenna
system, including all related equipment, or significantly decrease
its efficiency or performance and include all of the following:
(1) Requirements for application and notice to the association
prior to the installation.
(2) Requirement of the owner of a separate interest, as defined in
Section 1351, to obtain the approval of the association for the
installation of a video or television antenna that has a diameter or
diagonal measurement of 36 inches or less on a separate interest
owned by another.
(3) Provision for the maintenance, repair, or replacement of roofs
or other building components.
(4) Requirements for installers of a video or television antenna
to indemnify or reimburse the association or its members for loss or
damage caused by the installation, maintenance, or use of a video or
television antenna that has a diameter or diagonal measurement of 36
inches or less.
(c) Whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a
video or television antenna, including a satellite dish, the
application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate
approving entity for the common interest development in the same
manner as an application for approval of an architectural
modification to the property, and the issuance of a decision on the
application shall not be willfully delayed.
(d) In any action to enforce compliance with this section, the
prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees.
1378. (a) This section applies if an association's governing
documents require association approval before an owner of a separate
interest may make a physical change to the owner's separate interest
or to the common area. In reviewing and approving or disapproving a
proposed change, the association shall satisfy the following
requirements:
(1) The association shall provide a fair, reasonable, and
expeditious procedure for making its decision. The procedure shall be
included in the association's governing documents. The procedure
shall provide for prompt deadlines. The procedure shall state the
maximum time for response to an application or a request for
reconsideration by the board of directors.
(2) A decision on a proposed change shall be made in good faith
and may not be unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious.
(3) Notwithstanding a contrary provision of the governing
documents, a decision on a proposed change may not violate any
governing provision of law, including, but not limited to, the Fair
Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900)
of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), or a building code
or other applicable law governing land use or public safety.
(4) A decision on a proposed change shall be in writing. If a
proposed change is disapproved, the written decision shall include
both an explanation of why the proposed change is disapproved and a
description of the procedure for reconsideration of the decision by
the board of directors.
(5) If a proposed change is disapproved, the applicant is entitled
to reconsideration by the board of directors of the association that
made the decision, at an open meeting of the board. This paragraph
does not require reconsideration of a decision that is made by the
board of directors or a body that has the same membership as the
board of directors, at a meeting that satisfies the requirements of
Section 1363.05. Reconsideration by the board does not constitute
dispute resolution within the meaning of Section 1363.820.
(b) Nothing in this section authorizes a physical change to the
common area in a manner that is inconsistent with an association's
governing documents, unless the change is required by law.
(c) An association shall annually provide its members with notice
of any requirements for association approval of physical changes to
property. The notice shall describe the types of changes that require
association approval and shall include a copy of the procedure used
to review and approve or disapprove a proposed change.
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Development, Common Interest Developments, Community Association,
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Stirling Act, Davis Stirling Act, Davis- Stirling Common Interest
Development Act,
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Duties, Election, Election Procedures, Elections, Emergency, Executive
Session, Section 1354, Fines, Foreclosure, Foreclosures, HOA, HOAs, Homeowner
Association, Homeowner Associations, Law, Lawyer, Lien, Liens, Mediation
Mediations, Minutes, Open Meeting Act, Planned Development, Planned
Developments, Procedure, Recall, Records, Reserve Studies, Reserve Study
Rule Change, Rules, Rule Changes, Section 1350, Special Meeting, Special Meetings
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